Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Newsletter Autumn / Winter 2018
SHROPPIE FLY PAPER
Cover photo : Raft race at Overwater Marina Sept 2018 courtesy of Mark Welton If you have a picture of the canals in our area which you would like to see on one of our front covers, email it to andrew.smith@waterways.org.uk
THE BRANCH COMMITTEE President
Michael Limbrey 01691 654081
michael.limbrey@waterways.org.uk
Chairman
Michael Haig 07801 415573
michael.haig@waterways.org.uk
Secretary & Membership Sec.
Dawn Aylwin 01691 830403
shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk
Treasurer & Welsh Liaison Officer
Alan Platt
alan.platt@waterways.org.uk
Webmaster
Alan Wilding
alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk
Committee Members
Susan Wilding
alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk
NW Region Chairman
Sir Robert Atkins robert.atkins@waterways.org.uk 01995 602225 or 07770 254444
Newsletter Editor
Andrew Smith
andrew.smith@team.waterways.org.uk
Branch Web pages www.waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury www.facebook.com/pages/IWA-Shrewsbury-Branch/388651831206061 If you would prefer to communicate with the branch in the traditional way, please write to the Secretary at Wyndcliff, Pen y Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS Shroppie Fly Paper is the newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of The Inland Waterways Association (IWA). IWA is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and rivers. For further information contact any committee member. Copy for Shroppie Fly Paper is very welcome, preferably by email. Photographs may be in any common computer format or as prints. Please supply a stamped addressed envelope if you require photographs to be returned. ‘Letters to the Editor’ intended for publication are invited, as are comments for the Editor’s private guidance. Copy and letters submitted for publication may be edited. The Inland Waterways Association may not agree with the opinions expressed in this branch newsletter but encourages publicity as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as official policy unless stated otherwise. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. Any reproduction must be acknowledged. The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783 453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk
THE EDITOR'S CUT... No, not another new Editor, I have just grown my beard again! I really, really hate taking selfies… Well it has been another busy summer in our area. The front cover photo is a bit different from the usual canal scene. It shows another aspect of people having fun on the canals and was taken at the Boatshare and RNLI show at Overwater which took place on the same weekend as the Middlewich Breach Open Event in September. The work to repair the Middlewich Breach is making good progress and I was very pleased to be able to attend the Open Event to see it in person. Hopefully we will be able to report the Middlewich Arm’s re-opening in the next issue. Branch members have been taking part in a range of activities to promote the work of the IWA including various festivals and our annual lock wind. The lock wind is a terrific event. The barbeque on the evening before the lock wind is great fun and the many boaters that we helped up or down the Hurleston flight were very appreciative of the assistance. The cakes we had for sale went very quickly and we were pretty much cleared out of jam and chutney by the end. So for next year’s event, if you can provide any baked goods or preserves, you can be sure they will go to a good home. Don’t worry; we will remind you again nearer the time! You will see on page 4 that we have already set dates for various events during the winter and into next year (including the lock wind) so please do get the dates in your diaries and come and join us. Contact details if you want more information about any of the events are on the inside front cover. You can also support the branch by buying one or more calendars (they make great Christmas presents) and we have Christmas cards at the Charity Christmas Card Shop in Shrewsbury (see back cover for details). The next Shroppie Fly Paper will be the Spring 2019 issue. Please send your contributions to me at andrew.smith@team.waterways.org.uk. Andrew Smith
Next copy date: Friday, March 15, 2019 1
IWA SHREWSBURY DISTRICT & NORTH WALES BRANCH - DIARY 2018/19 All branch members are welcome to join us at our regular branch business meetings, which are preceded by an opportunity for supper and socialising. Meetings begin at 7.00pm, with supper from 6.00pm. To give our venues an idea of numbers and in case of a change of location please let the branch know if you would like to attend. shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk
November 23, 2018
Autumn Social, The Boathouse Ellesmere SY12 0PA
December 10, 2018
Branch Business Meeting, Online at 7pm
January 5, 2019
Winter Walk (See page 8)
March 11, 2019
Quiz Night
March 15, 2019
Copy deadline for Spring edition
April 13, 2019
Branch AGM, Wappenshall Wharf, Telford TF6 6DE (See page 23)
July 19-21, 2019
Gnosall Canal Festival (See page 29)
August 9-10, 2019
Branch Lock Wind—Hurleston. Helpers and produce welcome
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FROM THE STEERER
Rummaging, recently, in a cluttered cupboard much in need of clearing, I stumbled across a 2004 guide book to the Shropshire Union Canal, published by no less an authority than Waterways World. The guide drew my attention to the fact that, back in the early noughties, management of the Shropshire Union was split between the British Waterways office in Northwich and BW in Birmingham, which took over responsibility south of Bridge 74, between the top of Audlem Locks and Adderley. Today – 14 years later – we’re back to exactly the same divide at Bridge 74, this time between Canal & River Trust’s North West and West Midlands regions. This thought was in my mind when Michael Limbrey and I attended October’s inaugural User Forum of the expanded West Midlands Region in Birmingham – though in this latest incarnation it’s as if it’s been body-building, bulked out to incorporate the Montgomery Canal and most of the Llangollen as well. Most readers will be aware that CRT has reshaped itself into six regions, so it was interesting to learn that the West Midlands now contains around one third of CRT’s managed waterways and the same proportion of its “principal assets” – locks, bridges, tunnels, buildings (oh, and aqueducts). Despite having one third of the miles and the structural assets, it wasn’t clear from the presentations that the region would be favoured with one third of CRT’s resources. Perhaps inevitably, it seems that paid staff will stay in short supply, so CRT will continue to rely on the sterling work of volunteers and adoption groups. Consequently I think that one of the most important tasks for this branch in the months and years ahead (or at least until the next reorganisation) will be to ensure that our largely rural canals continue to receive the attention and resources that they need and deserve within this very large region, and that in their mainly tranquil existence they don’t get passed over in favour of the squeaks and squeals from the busy urban waterways. While this issue of Shroppie Fly Paper is in production, CRT’s North West Region will be holding its first User Forum at the Anderton Boat Lift. Of course, that event will be of equal interest to us and we’ve tabled a number of questions to which we hope to receive satisfactory replies. The first of these concerns the wharf crane outside the Shroppie Fly pub at Audlem. Despite its status as an iconic waterway image, featuring in countless photographs, advertisements and canal guides, the poor old thing has been neglected to the extent that the wooden jib has seriously rotted and looks to be in danger of parting company from the pillar – prompting CRT to fence off the crane and a section of the towpath outside the pub as well as mooring a work barge below the crane jib, ostensibly to prevent anything else from mooring there but also, perhaps, to catch the jib if it falls off!
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We are especially keen to get a realistic timetable and work plan for its removal, repair and reinstatement, and would like to think that, at worst, the restored crane would be back to its former best by the time that the winter stoppages on the Shroppie around Audlem are lifted in December. However, given that the protective fencing was installed on 10 September and I write this at the end of October with no progress
visible…
In the summer issue of Shroppie Fly Paper I mentioned IWA’s “Gaptracker” campaign to improve boaters’ facilities, and I hope that the boaters among our readership found some time to contribute to the survey. One glaring deficiency is the lack of a replacement for the boaters’ toilets and the chemical toilet disposal point at Hurleston, which readers may recall closed in the spring of 2017 after a structural failure involving the septic tank. We have heard talk about the possibility of opening alternative facilities, perhaps at Burland or some other location with mains sewerage, so again we will be asking CRT at the User Forum for more clarity regarding plans for these. In the meantime, the gaps remain between Grindley Brook and Calveley (heading north on the SU) or Nantwich if heading south, while boats destined for Middlewich or beyond next year must hang on until Anderton or Wheelock. With 19 locks and more than 12 miles distance between the Grindley Brook services and Hurleston Junction, these locations are all well outside IWA’s minimum standard of providing basic facilities at no more than five hours cruising, so additional services on the lower Llangollen would definitely provide welcome relief!
We will, of course, let you know how we get on. Michael Haig
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REGION CHAIRMAN WRITES
I spent a very pleasant and informative evening at a recent Branch Meeting in Whitchurch. Good grub, good people, good meeting - a pretty fair assessment of the many people involved in canals in general and the IWA in particular. I was, as always, impressed by the fund-raising and other activities of the Montgomery Canal Restoration Trust and delighted to learn that everything seems to be going to plan. And I wouldn’t mind a share of the profits of the Branch’s successful sales of Christmas cards and calendars either! I was not present at the IWA AGM due to my Wedding Anniversary and my wife’s birthday. A 3-line whip took me elsewhere! But there was some controversy - animosity, even - about the accounts, with a majority of those present refusing to accept them, on a technicality. The AGM did not complete all its business and will have to be reconvened to conclude its affairs. Matters at the last meeting of the IWA Trustees were fairly routine but one item was of some interest. You may recall that I have been banging on about the necessity for a more professional approach to lobbying those we wish to influence. Clearly that covers many organisations but, chiefly, national and local government. Although the Association is held in high regard in Westminster, I have been asked to look at ways we can make our lobbying even more effective and will soon be meeting with our parliamentary advisers to explore the options. This, of course, is at national level but it does not gainsay the vital importance of establishing effective relationships at Branch level with Town, Parish, Borough and County Councils - let alone the local MP. The first two above are often forgotten and, whilst they do not exert huge power, they are often very influential. Don’t ignore them! You will doubtless be aware of the substantial management changes that have been going on at the Canal & River Trust. Indeed, your estimable Chairman has been at the forefront in comment and concerns about it all. The Trustees have also been exercised, watching events closely. I met the new NW Director recently - Daniel Greenhalgh - and intend to establish close and productive contact as soon as possible. I was the only Trustee to “attend” the last meeting online so I was very pleased that we were able to conduct our last Regional meeting with every participant more or less(!) online. It seemed to work well with just one or two glitches and it meant that we all sat in our own homes, with glass in hand, and had a productive meeting. Here’s to the internet future! A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.
Sir Robert Atkins - Chairman, North West Region
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SUMMER WALK JULY 2018 Eleven of us (including the leader Alistair Price and his wife Sue), set off on a glorious morning on 7th July, for a walk through Granville Country Park in Muxton, Telford, looking forward to an interesting history lesson. We started off along a shady path, the track of an industrial railway, past where once stood the Barn Pit, linked to Barnyard Colliery which was on the highground to our right. We soon reached Waxhill, where another pit operated. The workers lived in Waxhill Barracks and close by we found the ruined foundations of their tin Methodist chapel. Alistair pointed out several large flat stones, now used by walkers to rest on, but formerly from the canal. One had a metal groove cut into it for stop planks. Then we had our first encounter with the line of Donnington Wood Tub Boat Canal, the first in the country, opened in 1768. This was built by Earl Gower, (Granville Leverson Gower), who later became The Marquis of Stafford, to transport coal from his estate at Donnington to Pave Lane near Newport where a wharf was built. The canal had no locks, although a shaft was built on the towpath to lower goods to a tunnel connecting with another canal from Lilleshall. We passed the site of Muxton Bridge where after closure, the pump continued to be used to empty water from the deep mines into the canal. Just off the path we were thrilled to discover two circular shaft entrances used to access the mine and further on were amazed to see huge ruins of the Winding House where steam engines used steel ropes to raise and lower the cages into the mine. Still walking in shade, although the midges were a nuisance, we continued along the path back towards the car park. A few energetic folk tackled 59 steps to reach The Top of the World, before descending further along back to the car park to meet up with those who took the gentle route.
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We walked through the car park, and crossed Granville Road to see another part of the park. Partly hidden in brambles was The Privy – not in use any more! Here the path was divided into two with one used as a bridleway. Suddenly we arrived at a manmade pool created as a reservoir for the nearby furnaces. We were taken aback by the sheer size of the lower remains of the Lodge Blast Furnaces last used in 1888. We were dwarfed by the three still standing although there had been five at one time. The furnaces were known worldwide for the quality of the pig-iron produced. The blowing house to the south has now disappeared. Close by, we came to the canal basin and wharf, still in water but choked at the exit by bulrushes. It was an attractive area with damsel flies, an island of water lilies and even a dragon fly. Returning to our cars, tired, but full of local knowledge, we still had lots of questions for Alistair to answer. Our queries and general chatter continued over lunch at The Clock Tower Restaurant and we all went home much wiser about Granville Country Park and the site’s historical importance. Susan Wilding
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WINTER WALK—WHIXALL MOSS SATURDAY 5TH JANUARY 2019
If the report on the Summer Walk has whetted your appetite for some waterways related exercise, you will be pleased to know that the Winter Walk will be taking place in January!
The walk will follow Route 10 from the Whixhall Walks book with a short detour to find out more about peat cutting in the area.
Meeting Point
Whixhall Marina (SY13 2QS) at 09:30: Café and facilities available
Walk start point
Morris’ Bridge (SY13 2RT) at 10:00. This walk will be about 2.8 miles and should take between 1.5 and 2 hours. Waterproof clothing and stout shoes/boots are recommended. Lunch will be at Whixall Marina The Whixhall Walks book mentioned above is available free at : http://www.whixallparish.org.uk/Whixall%20Walks%20Book%20v8% 20final.pdf
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MEMBERSHIP NEWS
We are delighted to welcome the following members who have either transferred to the branch or joined as a new member since the Summer edition and hope to meet you all at one of the events advertised in this magazine:
Mr Allmond from Broseley Mr & Mrs Arnell from Audlem Mr & Mrs Campbell from Westerham in Kent Mr & Mrs Grocott from Crewe Mr Jackson from Birkenhead Mr Long from Chirk Marina Mr & Mrs Lowe from Bayston Hill Aqueduct Marina Mr Phillips from Cardigan Mr Tarrant from Shrewsbury Mr & Mrs Vernon from Holyhead Mr Walker from Shrewsbury
This is the last edition in which I will be listed as Branch Secretary. It’s been a great few years (well more than a few; I took over in 2002) and I’ve enjoyed meeting new people, helping on the Branch stall and going to festivals. But it’s now time to step down and let someone with more energy to take over. My one disappointment? Nobody has yet volunteered to join the Branch committee or take on the role of Secretary. So please come and join us. I am not the only person to decide to retire this year. After 25 years the final Whitchurch Boat Rally occurred in September. Organised by Lindsay Green and her very able and hardworking group of volunteers, the event has always been a very relaxing and enjoyable end to the season. Thank you Lindsay for all your hard work - enjoy your retirement. So it's good bye to the Whitchurch Boat Rally BUT watch this space and reserve the 31st August/1st September weekend for the first Whitchurch Festival. Dawn Aylwin
WINTER STOPPAGES
Canal and River Trust has completed their consultation on winter closures. Details of the planned stoppages can be seen on a nice new interactive map at: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/planning-yourboat-trip/planned-winter-stoppages Alternatively, you can download a full list of stoppages in PDF form at:
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/media/report/winter-notices.pdf
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BRANCH ANNUAL LOCK WIND HURLESTON BOTTOM LOCK
Friday 10th, Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th August 2018 We held our seventh annual lock wind at Hurleston Locks at the entrance to the Llangollen Canal in mid-August. Five boats gathered for the customary barbecue the evening before the event and more volunteers came by car from across Shropshire and North Wales. With 16 enthusiastic helpers, we were able to work boats through the bottom three locks on the four-lock flight for most of the time, and also sell home-made produce as well as Christmas cards and calendars to appreciative passing boaters. Rather surprisingly in view of the interrupted access to the Llangollen Canal for many craft due to the breach at Middlewich, boat numbers were in fact slightly up on last year, with close to 100 boats being worked over almost three days. And pleasingly, despite numerous concerns about the shrinking width of Hurleston Bottom Lock, no one got stuck though one or two probably came close. Hopefully the planned remedial works this winter to the towpath-side lock wall and the towpath groundworks will resolve the problems for many years to come. Our thanks go to all the volunteers who helped, including those who kindly and generously provided the preserves and pastries and helped make this popular event such a fund-raising success. Thanks also to CRT’s seasonal and volunteer lock keepers, who always make us feel so welcome each year. Mike Haig
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BRANCH CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE
Our 2019 Branch Calendar has been available for a while now and sales are going well so , if you want a copy, don’t delay! It is on sale :
At events we attend From our usual outlets Aqueduct Marina Audlem Mill Blackwater Meadow Marina Kings Lock Chandlery Also at the Charity Card Overwater Marina Shop until 5th December. Venetian Marina See back cover for details. Whixhall Marina By mail order (£6.00 inc p&p) from 7 Barnton Edge, Stone, ST15 8ZR Cheques payable to “The Inland Waterways Association”
Many thanks to our sponsors Aqueduct Marina 01270 525041 — Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Holidays 07867 790195 Kings Lock Chandlery 01606 737564 — Mercia Marine Insurance 01684 564457 M&L Canal Services and Mobile Engineer 07970 384047 Midway Boats 01270 528482 — Morris Lubricants 07182 410391 Overwater Marina 01270 812677 — Swanley Bridge Marina 01270 524571 Talbot Wharf 01630 652641 — Venetian Marina 01270 528251 Whixall Marina 01948 880420
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MIDDLEWICH ARM BREACH UPDATE
In the last edition we reported on work to repair the breach which occurred in the Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch near Middlewich at the aqueduct between bridges 27 and 28 on 15th March. Work is continuing and on schedule to re-open the branch for navigation before Christmas. The Canal and River Trust held an Open Weekend at the breach on 8-9 September. I took a couple of hours out from manning our stand at the Overwater Boatshare / RNLI event to attend and was very glad I did so. The scale of the work being done is very impressive. There was a presentation by John Ackroyd, Pricipal Engineer at Canal & River Trust who is the principal designer for the breach repair. He confirmed that the cause of the breach is believed to have been lock paddles left open. The water flow overwhelmed the weirs and the pound overtopped. This eroded the bank and caused the breach. It is estimated that around 4.5 million gallons of water was lost and some 7,000 tonnes of earth was taken down. Luckily the breach occurred at an aqueduct over the River Wheelock which allowed the water to escape with minimal flooding to nearby houses. Principal Engineer John Ackroyd
Who’s who
As well as John Ackroyd, it was good to chat with other Canal and River Trust personnel involved with repairing the breach. Siobhan Butler (left) Principal Geotechnical engineer was called across from Leeds as part of the emergency response when the breach happened. She was also involved with dealing with breaches at Dutton and Stourbridge Sara Barsley (right) is a hydraulic and hydrological modeller with a particular interest in water resource management.
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There were some concerns over the stability of the aqueduct so access had to be made from 200 metres along the canal bed. A topographic survey was carried out to see how much material had been lost as well as a structural survey of the aqueduct arch. A licence had to obtained from Natural England to work around badger setts.
The construction phase of the repair is being carried out by Keir Construction. A ramp to the river was required with material clearance and terracing carried out. Layers of stone and geo-grid were laid to reinforce the slope. During the open event, the crew were laying 6 inch layers of stone which each received 10 passes of a vibrating roller to ensure that they are fully compacted.
The bank is some 13 metres tall with a 35 degree slope. At the time of the open event, there were about 2 metres of height remaining to be built. Since then the correct level has been reached and, at the time of writing, they are about to start sealing the bed of the canal. This will be done with a welded PVC liner which will be protected by fibrereinforced concrete. Once sealed, the canal will be tested for leakage. Then the dams will be removed to allow the canal to be re-opened to navigation. The canal will be around 1.4 metres deep when refilled. Final works on the towpath are expected to take a little longer.
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Canal and River Trust Chief Executive, Richard Parry was in attendance on Sunday
These photos from Alison Smith give a good idea of the height of the embankment that needed to be rebuilt and the sheer scale of the work needed to access the repair site!
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The overall cost of the work is estimated to be £3 million which represents some 10% of the annual projects budget. About £25K was raised by the Emergency Appeal and the People’s Lottery has contributed about £1.4m. There were 108 vistors on Saturday and over 200 on Sunday. Among the volunteers helping at the event was IWA member Alison Smith. Apparently she wanted to wear her IWA hi-vis vest but wasn’t allowed to!
Geoff Harris from SUMBA was also there to keep visitors on the straight and narrow. You will recall that SUMBA was called upon immediately after the breach to help inform boaters and to help clear rubbish from the empty canal.
Hopefully by the Spring 2019 issue of Shroppie Fly Paper, we will be able to report the successful reopening of the Middlewich Branch. Andrew Smith
Progress updates
The Principal Engineer and Designer for the repair, John Ackroyd has posted some good pictures on his Twitter account (https://twitter.com/ JohnPAckroyd) Some updates about the breach (including a short video of the boat recovery) from Canal and River Trust are available at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/north-west/ middlewich-branch-breach The Canal and River Trust stoppage notice which is updated periodically can be found at: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/notice/12553/stanthorne-lock-2-to-wardle-lock -1-middlewich-branch-shropshire-union-canal
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MONTGOMERY CANAL 2018 PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION Over the next few months, the Montgomery Canal 2018 Photographic Exhibition will be at the following venues: Powysland Museum, Canal Wharf, Welshpool, until mid-December Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 11am-1pm & 2pm-5pm Saturday 11am-2pm. (Closed Wednesday & Sunday)
Oswestry library, Arthur St, SY11 1JN, 3-31 January Opening hours: 9.30am - 5.00pm weekday, closed on Sunday. Newtown library, Park Lane, SY16 1EJ, 2-28 February. Opening hours: 9.30am -5.30pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri. 9.30am-1.00pm Sat, closed Wednesday and Sunday. Sylvia Edwards Montgomery Canal Development Officer Canal and River Trust
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WHITCHURCH NEWS
The Whitchurch Boat Rally was a successful weekend. The Arm was filled with boats despite members of the Broken Cross Cruising Club not being able to bring their boats as planned. Most of them did, however, come in their cars for the day and were able to join us for the meal. They are determined to try again next year. We had new trading boats as well which always makes things more interesting. The pizza boat was very popular. The trip boat, loaned from Canal and River Trust, and run by the Small Tasks Team Volunteers was well used.
Photo courtesy of Dawn Aylwin
The local businesses and shops did us proud with raffle prizes and donations for the goody bags and we are very grateful to them. It is very heartening and good to know they appreciate what the trust is trying to do. The dog show didn't have as many entrants as previous years but it was enjoyed by all the participants and we thank Peter Richards who did sterling work judging the show for us. We had a sponsor for the prizes which was a great advantage. We took over ÂŁ2,500.00 which is a useful addition to the coffers. The date for the rally in 2019 is 31st August and 1st September so make a note in your diaries. For those of you who do not already know one of our founder members, Peter Wagstaffe, died in April. He held every post on the committee at one time or another and was a fount of knowledge on the trust. We miss him very much. The Small Tasks Team Volunteers visited the arm again in October to put the stop plank shelter in for us. All we need now are the planks. They also very kindly erected a new fence behind the memorial garden for Mike Johnson and Peter Wagstaffe. It looks very smart and our maintenance team have already erected bird boxes on it. We are very grateful for their hard work. To see fourteen people working on the arm was fantastic and they achieved a lot in the time they were here. We held a bric-a-brac sale at the beginning of November and managed to raise another ÂŁ170.00. It was a chilly day but a steady stream of people turned up and made some space for all the new stuff which was donated thanks to an appeal on Facebook. Lindsay Green
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REVIEW OF ‘THE SHROPSHIRE UNION CANAL ’ BY PETER BROWN The recent Canal books that I have read, by no means an exhaustive list, have tended to be written by keen amateurs and designed for the ‘general reader’; Peter Brown’s book is written by a canal enthusiast, but both in the quality of writing and the production values it is highly professional. At £35 and running to some 280 pages of double column text plus bibliography and index, it is not a light read and seems designed for an audience with a slightly longer attention span than that targeted by the variety of TV canal documentaries gracing our screens. The book is divided up into two basic sections, the first of which contains an introduction and then considers the history of the various constituents of what came to constitute the Shropshire Union system, most of which had separate origins and progenitors and have only achieved any sort of centralisation in relatively modern times. In the very first Chapter the author is not afraid to reveal that for example the Chinese built the first pound lock in AD984 and that even the Italians were at it a good two centuries before a sod was cut on the Bridgewater or the Sankey. In fact I suspect he takes a delight in challenging our preconceptions which is no bad thing. He does admit that it may be confusing to deal with the Chester Canal and then later the Ellesmere Canal for example, but I think it does have the advantage in that most readers will in fact want to refer back to individual chapters, rather than the whole book. This is a book which will act as a reference for many years to come, and for some a source of many quiz questions and answers. The book is profusely and well illustrated and there are useful maps at the beginning of many chapters. Despite this the profusion of place names may cause confusion and I found it useful to read some chapters with ‘google maps’ open on my laptop. Those who know Peter will not be surprised to learn that various shibboleths are challenged, including as regards Thomas Telford.
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He accepts him as a master architect but points out that Telford was the ‘General Agent’ whereas Jessop was the engineer for the Ellesmere canal, for example it was Jessop who put the scaffolding on the Pontcysyllte on the inside of the hollow piers and in the process was one of the first to consider Health and Safety. There is an emphasis throughout, not on the engineering but on the establishment and funding of the various canal companies, and their subsequent profitability or lack of it. He even spots the fact that depreciation was not charged on the fixed assets in early accounts, a technical but important detail, at least to an accountant. The facts are in the detail, and Peter appears to have read every company minute and public report available on the history of the original canal companies and every available source on the later history and it is ironic that in some respects there is more available on the early canal companies than on the various nationalised governing bodies of recent years. The last three chapters cover ‘The Second Canal Age’ covering the years since 1914, and this is right up to date, including the Middlewich breach of this spring. This inevitably will mean that this section of the book will be outdated, but this is inevitable. It is to be expected from the secretary of the Railway & Canal Historical Society that he declines to blame the railway for the canals ceasing to be viable commercially, but instead posits the view that modern road transport has done for freight haulage on both the canals and the railways, as that is the only method that can deliver door to door with no transhipment, and my experience in the haulage industry supports that thesis. In his final chapter Peter does relax the objective historical stance slightly to comment on the present and the future, and again this is done reasonably, especially as regards the major restorations on the Montgomery and Shrewsbury & Newport, where he argues cogently that a desire for something to be achieved should not blind us to the realities of achieving it. As is obvious I liked this book, and I was determined to give an honest opinion, and not just a paean of praise as for a school concert. This has not proved to be a problem as this is a fine and excellently produced book, not an easy or light read, but all the better for that.
Alan Platt The SHROPSHIRE UNION CANAL, - From the Mersey to the Midlands and Mid Wales. Peter Brown 282 pp. Railway & Canal Historical Society £35
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SUMBA
Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch Adopters SUMBA volunteers recently started the refurbishment of their stores at Cholmondeston Lock, clearing three van loads of debris and redundant materials from previous work parties. The main room now works far better than before and tools are neatly organised ready for use. This now also provides dry and clean space for volunteer lock keepers when they return to normal duties. On Thursday and Friday 8th/9th November they assisted Canal and River Trust with preparation for the reopening of the Stanthorne to Middlewich stretch, meeting at Wardle Lock. They helped to restore bridge brickwork and also generally tidying and cleaning the canalside and Wardle Lock. Geoff Harris
SYKES HOLLOW PROJECT COMPLETE!
SUMBA’s project to upgrade the visitor facilities at this popular mooring site commenced in early 2016 when they obtained a £2,000 Cheshire East Council Community Grant to assist CRT with the overall costs. In mid 2016 Reaseheath College’s Construction Dept agreed to include the renovation of the ex clay pit manager’s hut in their 2016/7 Third Year Apprentice’s curriculum. Under their tutor nine apprentices became responsible for all measurements, drawings and costings to build and replace the entire roof, external drainage, window/frame and door/frame etc. The windows & doors were built at Reaseheath by one of the team and the onsite renovation, by all nine apprentices, took place between June 12 & 16 2017. All materials and personnel were transported each day to and from Cholmondeston Lock & Sykes Hollow by Malvern CRT’s historic work boat. During June’s renovation of the clay pit manager’s hut CRT’s local team laid field drains around the main picnic table area. The aim of this work was to reduce the very boggy areas which occur in the winter due to the under lying clay. This certainly worked last winter. At Sept, Oct & Nov’s 2017’s work parties SUMBA’s volunteers 1). Laid a 30 metres length of plastic matting between the canal edge and the rear of the towpath to create a disabled friendly access from boats. Grass has now grown through the matting, hiding the diamond shape, and created a firm surface which should not be affected by winter weather for access to/from boats.
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2). Totem posts were erected either side of the matting to create a ‘disabled priority’ mooring in front of the renovated hut. 3). Working with CRT’s design team an interpretation board was installed adjacent to the hut. This explains in text & historic photos the Middlewich Branch’s history, including the steam engine haulage trial, clay extraction at Cholmondeston Clay Pit (now known as Sykes Hollow) and the major breach overlooking Church Minshull. 4). A new Sykes Hollow Visitor Moorings sign was installed in CRT’s new brand colours. Unfortunately the previous sign had been severely vandalised.
5). With a £100 grant from IWA’s Shrewsbury & North Wales branch a disabled access picnic table was built by Crewe’s Men In Sheds from oak which SUMBA had recycled when they replaced damaged timbers at Brickyard Bridge 6 in 2016. The picnic table was installed in Sept 2018 adjacent to the clay pit manager’s hut and in front of the disabled friendly access area from boats. Graham Russell
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WHARF CRANE AT AUDLEM The crane at Audlem Wharf is arguably one of the most iconic structures on the Shropshire Union Canal and features in many a holiday snapshot. Unfortunately it is currently in a poor state of repair and has been fenced off by Canal and River Trust for safety reasons. As a result, boats over 50ft are not able to access the waterpoint by the Shroppie Fly pub. The nearest water point for boats over 50ft is at lock 13.
Photo by Graham Russell
The crane was not the original and was not actually used in canal carrying days. It was apparently brought by canal from of the canal-rail interchange yards on the Birmingham Canal Navigation.
Branch members have been in contact with the Canal and River Trust local management and Audlem Parish Council. As we go to press, there has not been any firm news on how / when the structure will be restored. We hope to have more news in the Spring edition. The information in this was taken from an article on Audlem Online by Peter Silvester. The full article can be found at: https://www.audlem.org/ newsroom/headlines/ canal-crane-at-audlemwharf.html The photo on the left was provided by our own Mike Haig. Andrew Smith
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IWA SHREWSBURY DISTRICT & NORTH WALES BRANCH Notice is hereby given for the 2018 Annual General Meeting of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of the Inland Waterways Association to be held at Wappenshall Wharf, Wappenshall, Telford, TF6 6DE Saturday 13th April 2019 at 10:00
AGENDA
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Apologies for absence
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Approval of the minutes of the 2017 AGM
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Matters arising from the minutes
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Chairman's Report
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Treasurer’s Report
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Election of Committee Members
Any resolutions requested by members of the branch should be notified to the branch chairman at least six weeks prior to the AGM. After the AGM, there is the opportunity for two very interesting presentations, a tour of Wappenshall Wharf and a buffet lunch. The provisional programme is as follows:
Arrival with coffee/tea & biscuits in the Romney Building
AGM
Presentation - The birth of a waterways radio station (“Captain Phil”, Waterwaves Radio)
Presentation – SNCT progress (Bernie Jones, Chairman SNCT)
“Hard Hat” tour of Wappenshall Wharf (including small warehouse)
Buffet Lunch – cost £5/head payable on the day In order to arrange the venue and catering we would ask members to let us know if they wish to attend, by email to shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk.
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RIP
It is sad to report the passing of two people who contributed so much to our waterways.
Harry Arnold
Harry’s name will be known from his extensive involvement in waterway photography and journalism. He was there at the start of the Montgomery Canal restoration, the Shropshire Union Canal Society, Waterways World, Ellesmere Port Boat Museum and so much else. You will have seen many of the articles, reports and pictures he contributed to many waterway publications and perhaps the books he produced or helped. With a strong interest in the canals of our area from his years at Norbury, Harry was a Trustee of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust for many years and was always active in his support for the canal, visiting only a few weeks ago to photograph the SUCS work party, the contractors at Crickheath and the Lottery project photographic exhibition in Welshpool. Harry built up a unique collection of photographs, ‘Waterway Images’, and was always generous in allowing their use to promote the Montgomery Canal. The Waterway Images photographs of the Montgomery fund-raising visit to Braunston Historic Boats Festival in the summer were taken by his daughter Julie and I am sure she will continue to maintain and develop that unique collection.
On board ‘Ictus’ at Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally, June 2018. L to R: Harry Arnold, Michael Limbrey, Timothy West, Sheila Suchet, David Suchet. Copyright: WATERWAY IMAGES/Julie Arnold
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David Wain
It was before the war that David Wain’s father started the first hire-boat business at Christleton, which David subsequently ran. After giving up the business, David was instrumental in establishing the canal museum at Llangollen. He joined the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council when it was established as the Government’s statutory adviser in 1968, becoming Chairman in 1976. David was instrumental too in engaging Prince Charles and the then Prince of Wales’ Committee in funding the restoration of the Montgomery Canal north of Welshpool (the Prince of Wales’ Section). That work was overseen by the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Group and when the group had achieved its objective, steps were taken to carry on its work. As branch chairman at the time I was summoned to a meeting with David and BW Chairman Sir Frank Price which led to the establishment of Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust in 1980. David was active in his support for the restoration for many years and when in 2005 he eventually ‘retired’ from doing so became a Vice-President of the Trust. Both these stalwarts contributed so much to our waterways and to the Montgomery Canal in particular. We owe them a great debt of gratitude. They will be greatly missed. Michael Limbrey
NANTWICH CANAL HISTORY REVEALED IN NEW INTERPRETATION PANELS AT AQUEDUCT
Nantwich’s fascinating canal history is now revealed in new interpretation panels installed next to Thomas Telford’s historic aqueduct, known as ‘The Gateway to Nantwich’. Canal and River Trust has joined Nantwich Museum and Nantwich Partnership to create the panels, which tell the story of the Shropshire Union Canal and Telford’s iconic aqueduct. This new interpretation panel, coupled with recent improvements to a nearby canalside playground, are part of a partnership initiative to promote tourism and boost investment in the picturesque Cheshire market town. Group photo shows: Front: Sarah Lalieu (Canal & River Trust). Back Lto R: Jeff Stubbs (Nantwich Partnership), Graham Dodd (Nantwich Museum), Cllr Arthur Moran (Cheshire East Council), Nick Dyer (Nantwich Museum), Kate Lynch (Canal & River Trust)
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BOAT SHARE SHOW/RNLI FESTIVAL
OVERWATER MARINA — SEPTEMBER 8-9, 2018 The branch had a stand at this popular event to promote the work of the IWA. The weather on Saturday was not great but it was an enjoyable and successful event . The stand is the same one we used at the Norbury Canal Festival and, once again, its eyecatching map wall was a real conversation piece.
Val Haig explaining to visitors the work that IWA does to
We signed up several protect and restore waterways across the country new members and sold some of our 2019 calendars.
The raft race on Sunday was great fun and well supported by local groups. Our Branch Chairman, Mike Haig was kept extra busy as he was on the panel for an “Ask the Experts” event on Sunday. Special thanks to Graham & Sue Russell for their help in setting up and taking down the stand. Andrew Smith
Raft race winners: Photo courtesy of Mark Welton
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SMALL TASKS TEAM VOLUNTEERS STTV have been very busy since our last issue...
FESTIVAL BOAT TRIPS
STTV attended the Whitchurch and Ellesmere festivals to drive the trip boat ‘Bala’. Between the two events, well over 500 people enjoyed trips—a remarkable achievement.
WORK PARTIES Swanley Locks
A return visit to repaint these locks after rain interfered with the previous effort. The weather this time was good and this should last a little longer!
Cholmondeston & Barbridge
The new water point at Cholmondeston was furnished with paving… … and preparatory work was undertaken at Barbridge where a memorial for Paul Mills is to be installed.
For further information about STTV, contact: John Riley 01352 741322 / 07518 040632 john.riley295@btinternet.com Photos provided by John Bannister
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MONTGOMERY CANAL PICKS UP PRESTIGIOUS GREEN FLAG AWARD
The Montgomery Canal has gained a Green Flag Award in recognition of its outstanding rural beauty, diverse wildlife and the enthusiastic commitment of volunteers. An eight mile navigable stretch of the canal in Shropshire, from Frankton Locks, near Ellesmere, to Maesbury Marsh, has been officially recognised as a high quality green space. Known and enjoyed locally as a peaceful waterway haven away from the bustle of modern life, the canal and towpath are managed by the Trust with the support of an army of volunteers, including the Shropshire Union Canal Society, the Shropshire Paddlesport and Frankton Locks adoption groups and another half dozen smaller volunteer groups. The Montgomery joins 12 other Canal & River Trust sites to be recognised by the scheme, which is promoted by Keep Britain Tidy. Duncan Davenport, from the Canal & River Trust, said: “We know that canals improve the wellbeing of those who visit and we’re thrilled the Montgomery Canal has been recognised with a Green Flag Award. This highlights how important this waterway is for both the local community and visitors. In particular the judges commended our amazing army of volunteers and the canal’s rural beauty and rich biodiversity. “Everyone who volunteers or donates is helping to make our waterways such special places where people can come to boost their wellbeing, so we thank them all for their continued support.” International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd added: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, with more Green Flags awarded this year than last year. “Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. We are proud to have so many wonderful green spaces in the UK for people to enjoy, and hope that next year, we award even more flags.” All Canal & River Trust Green Flag Awards 2018:
19 miles of the Lancaster Canal from Bilsborrow to the Lune Aqueduct
30 miles of the Chesterfield Canal from Kiveton Park to West Stockwith
8 miles of the Montgomery Canal
All 9 ½ miles of the Pocklington Canal
All 2 ½ miles of the Ripon Canal
14 ½ miles of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal
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GNOSALL CANAL FESTIVAL (C-FEST) 19-21 JULY 2019
The first Gnosall Canal Festival is due to take place in July 2019. The festival is to be known as C-fest to tie in with Gnosall’s popular G-fest. There will be a special focus on history and historic narrowboats will be particularly welcome to attend. If readers have any pre1990s photos (the older the better!) the C-fest organisers would very much like to hear from you. If you would like to contact the organisers about photos, getting involved in the festival or just to receive updates about the festival, their email address is: Cfest.gnosall@gmail.com
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